An unexpected volcanic eruption in Indonesia caused major disruption on June 18, when an Air India flight bound for Bali was forced to return mid‑air to Delhi. Flight AI2145 departed smoothly but was ordered back after Mount Lewotobi Laki‑Laki, on Flores Island, erupted - violating aviation safety zones with an ash column reaching heights of around 10–11 km .

The aircraft landed safely without incident at Delhi’s IGI Airport, and passengers were promptly deplaned. Air India swiftly arranged hotel accommodations, full refunds, or complimentary rescheduling to minimize passenger inconvenience .

The eruption also triggered widespread cancellations: airlines like Singapore Airlines, Jetstar, and Air New Zealand halted flights to and from Bali, while Indonesia's volcanology agency raised the alert to its highest level and evacuated nearby villages within an 8 km danger radius .

This incident echoes the global airspace disruptions seen during Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 - highlighting how volcanic ash remains a serious risk to aircraft engines and flight safety . As ash clouds linger, Bali overshadows as a no‑fly zone, leaving travelers to monitor updates closely.